[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

I’ve seen alot of analsyt already crowning the Cavs as a lock to represent the east in the NBA Finals. I believe they are underestemating the rest of the east and they are underrating the Cavs issues/problems. I’m not saying the Cavs won’t make it to the finals or that they shouldn’t be the favorites (they should), but that don’t say they are a lock.

In my opinion the eastern conference has gotten better if the rumored deals finalize in the near future. The Miami Heat will be a great team next year with the starting lineup potentially will remain the same. The Heat had the only team in the league where all five starters were in the top 100 in PER. They drafted Justise Winslow who many believe was the steal of the draft anda NBA ready player. This team have a All-NBA guardlocked up for 5 years in Goran Dragic, who seems to be very underrated now and have Chris Bosh, who is still a top 5 power forward in the league.

I expect Indiana to be better if they get Monta Ellis. They will have (in my opinion) the best wing duo in the league in Monta Ellis and Paul George. Monta would fill the void that Lance Stephenson left that the Pacers missed and Monta Ellis would add more of a scoring punch to the Pacers that they never had in the Paul George era. Paul George before he broke his leg was considered a top 10 player in this league and the top two way player in the league. I would like to expect the Pacers to be back strong next year.

The Bulls may look the same, but they are different. A new offensive coach may help the Bulls reach new heights that Coach Thibs could not reach. They can take a similar leap that the Warriors did this past season. I expect Joakim Noah to bounce back next year, Jimmy Butler to take another step, Derrick Rose to play like he did in the playoffs, and Doug McDermott and Tony Snell to take a leap in there development. They should have a great year next year and a strong contender in the eastern conferense.

You also have the Wizards, Bucks, Raptors, and the Hawks all being good teams that’s competitive to give any team a run in a 7 game series. 

Another thing that can hold the Cavs back is 3 out there 5 best players are widely viewed as injury prone in Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Anderson Varejao. Kyrie Irving never had a injury that didn’t cause him to miss significant amounts of time. Kevin Love had big time injuries in Minnesota and now he had one in Cleveland. And Anderson Varejao always seem to not being able to play 25 games per season before he gets hurt.

I won’t call them a lock because the eastern conferense is better and the some of the Cavs best players are injury prone. I do believe they should be the favorites, but don’t crown them as locks just yet because of what I wrote.

 

 

 

  

 

 

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I see as the only challengers. But again you mention injuries Wade and rose being healthy is just as much as a question mark.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 I see as the only challengers. But again you mention injuries Wade and rose being healthy is just as much as a question mark.

[VRod305Participant]

Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside and Winslow is better than any six players the Cavs have. All depends on health though.

[VRod305Participant]

Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside and Winslow is better than any six players the Cavs have. All depends on health though.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 Using a rookie as a top 6 player for team makes you look silly and reaching

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 Using a rookie as a top 6 player for team makes you look silly and reaching

[VRod305Participant]

Irving is no guarantee to be back and as good as he was. This is a serious injury. I’ve seen guys have their career ended with this injury. It’s not a broken ankle or something routine.

[VRod305Participant]

Irving is no guarantee to be back and as good as he was. This is a serious injury. I’ve seen guys have their career ended with this injury. It’s not a broken ankle or something routine.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I see what you did there…

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I see what you did there…

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 if they are healthy, that’s a big if, they are a lock and no arguments should be made to try to contradict this

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 if they are healthy, that’s a big if, they are a lock and no arguments should be made to try to contradict this

[ballup23Participant]

Pistons are very compelling team to me next season. They’re line up is as good if not better then Miami’s and Younger. They are 1 or 2 free agent signings away from taking a huge step forward next season.

[Rip255]

 I didn’t know they legalised weed in Detroit…but I’ll have whatever you’re smoking. 

[Rip255]

 I didn’t know they legalised weed in Detroit…but I’ll have whatever you’re smoking. 

[ballup23Participant]

Pistons are very compelling team to me next season. They’re line up is as good if not better then Miami’s and Younger. They are 1 or 2 free agent signings away from taking a huge step forward next season.

[220Participant]

 If the Cavs are healthy then they are undoubtedly the favorites to make it out of the East. I have to say I’m curious to see how the Bulls perform with Fred Hoiberg rather than Tom Thibadeau. Perhaps he has them playing better than ever or maybe they miss Thibs. Either way we should be able to confirm or deny the allegations that Thibs was burning guys out in the regular season.

[220Participant]

 If the Cavs are healthy then they are undoubtedly the favorites to make it out of the East. I have to say I’m curious to see how the Bulls perform with Fred Hoiberg rather than Tom Thibadeau. Perhaps he has them playing better than ever or maybe they miss Thibs. Either way we should be able to confirm or deny the allegations that Thibs was burning guys out in the regular season.

[Rip255]

Some straight-up facts for you: 

Chances the Cavs win the East – 75%

Second Best team in the East – Wizards

Other playoff-worthy teams – Bulls, Pacers, Hawks

Number of Western Conference teams that could make the East Playoffs – 10 (All but Twolves, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets, Blazers). 

NBA Finals Preview – Cavs vs Warriors, Part II

 

 

 

 

 

[Rip255]

Some straight-up facts for you: 

Chances the Cavs win the East – 75%

Second Best team in the East – Wizards

Other playoff-worthy teams – Bulls, Pacers, Hawks

Number of Western Conference teams that could make the East Playoffs – 10 (All but Twolves, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets, Blazers). 

NBA Finals Preview – Cavs vs Warriors, Part II

 

 

 

 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 The East is flat out garbage.  All the best teams are in the West.  So, yes, the Cavs are locks.  And I’m a Bulls’ fan….

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 The East is flat out garbage.  All the best teams are in the West.  So, yes, the Cavs are locks.  And I’m a Bulls’ fan….

[omphalosParticipant]

Love still can’t defend anybody, they still have poor depth and Kyrie’s D is still a question mark.

Bulls will be a lot better with a healthy Rose with no doom hanging over his head, Butler back and with no huge minutes to wear him out during regular season, McDermott is the perfect small-ball PF and could do a decent job guarding Love, Mirotic will be given more minutes and responsibility and Hoiberg in general will do wonders for their attacking game.

Also, Pacers with Monta and a healthy PG could be scary and a healthy Miami team is terrifying if Whiteside can play at a decent level again next season.

I definitely wouldn’t call them a lock, especially with Lebron another year older and having been through another long post-season. 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

Love still can’t defend anybody, they still have poor depth and Kyrie’s D is still a question mark.

Bulls will be a lot better with a healthy Rose with no doom hanging over his head, Butler back and with no huge minutes to wear him out during regular season, McDermott is the perfect small-ball PF and could do a decent job guarding Love, Mirotic will be given more minutes and responsibility and Hoiberg in general will do wonders for their attacking game.

Also, Pacers with Monta and a healthy PG could be scary and a healthy Miami team is terrifying if Whiteside can play at a decent level again next season.

I definitely wouldn’t call them a lock, especially with Lebron another year older and having been through another long post-season. 

 

 

 

[tennislegendParticipant]

 cavs definitely best in east but hawks raptors bulls and wizards will definitely be a challenge cavs did great in finals though winning 2 game with love irving varejao hurt and jr smith not as good as in regular season. cavs probably would have beat golden state with love and irving

[tennislegendParticipant]

 cavs definitely best in east but hawks raptors bulls and wizards will definitely be a challenge cavs did great in finals though winning 2 game with love irving varejao hurt and jr smith not as good as in regular season. cavs probably would have beat golden state with love and irving

[Author]

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